Falcons Close Out Homestand with Two Matches

The Air Force volleyball team closes out its month-long, 11-match homestand this weekend with a pair of conference contests at Cadet East Gym. The Falcons will host UNLV on Friday, Sept. 28, before welcoming New Mexico to the Academy on Sunday, Sept. 30.

FOLLOW ALONG FROM HOME
Live video and stats will be available for both contests.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
UNLV, which is currently in the midst of an eight-match winning streak, defeated Boise State (home, 3-0) and Utah State (road, 3-1) during the conference-opening weekend to improve to 11-3 on the season. Mariena Hayden, who has earned MW Offensive honors for the last three weeks, currently leads the league with a 4.77 kills-per-set average. As a team, the Rebels lead the conference in kills, aces, hitting and opponent hitting. New Mexico is 7-7 on the year after splitting the opening weekend of the conference season with a home win over Utah State (3-10) and a road loss to Boise State (0-3). Lauren Twitty currently leads the Lobos with a 3.42 kills-per-set average (188 total) – a mark that is ranked eighth in the Mountain West.

HISTORY 101
Air Force, which captured thrilling five-set victories over both UNLV (road) and New Mexico (home) during the only meetings in the 2017, is 4-37 against UNLV and 4-36 against New Mexico in the all-time series. The Falcons have split their last two home contests with UNLV, claiming a 3-0 sweep in 2015 to snap a 31-match skid to the Rebels.

STAT BLAST
Two Falcons are listed among the top of the Mountain West in their respective statistical categories. Denise Ssozi is listed seventh in kills (3.51) and ninth in points (3.90), while Sarah Hellman is ranked ninth in digs (3.29). As a team, Air Force is ranked first in assists (12.59), second in digs (16.55), third in kills (13.33), fourth in opponent hitting (.162) and fifth in hitting (.214).

FALCONS WIN CONFERENCE OPENER
The Falcons opened the Mountain West portion of their season with a 3-0 sweep of San Diego State on Sept. 23 – marking the first time since 2014 that the squad has won its conference opener.

WHAT'S ON DECK
After playing in the friendly confines of Cadet East Gym for the past month, the Falcons finally venture off the Academy grounds next week – but still stay relatively close to home – for road matches against their two closest conference foes. Air Force will travel to Wyoming on Thursday, Oct. 4, before facing Colorado State on Friday, Oct. 5.

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Hellman

Denise Ssozi

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